35 Filipino fishermen rescued, 261 still missing

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine authorities have rescued 35 fishermen and are searching for 261 others still missing more than a week after a powerful typhoon killed hundreds of people in the southern Philippines.

Regional military spokesman Capt. Severino David said Wednesday the Indonesian government sent a ship to join the search for the fishermen, who may have been swept toward the Celebes Sea from the Pacific Ocean off Mindanao Island.

Indonesia has also allowed Philippine search planes to enter its airspace.

The Philippine coast guard says the tuna fishermen were about 120 nautical miles (222 kilometers) east of Davao Oriental province as early as October.

Typhoon Bopha's top winds of 210 kilometers (131 miles) per hour apparently made it difficult for them to return to shore.